Bea knocks at Joan's door and after a moment she answers. Bea has the gun hidden behind her handbag

Joan looks ready to faint with shock

Joan - Smith?

Bea - That's right Ferguson...what's the matter you look like you've seen a ghost

Joan - We all thought.....

Bea chuckles

Bea - I know Joan but as you can see I am very much alive

Joan - I take it you're the one Kean was talking about the other day, she told me she had someone else on her side but I didn't believe her at the time.

Bea - I bet this is a nice surprise for you isn't it seeing your old mate Bea again

Joan - I don't know what it is you and Kean want from me but neither of you is welcome here....now as much as I'd love to spend all day chatting to you Smith I have plans for the day so if you don't mind...

Joan attempts to close the door on Bea but Bea prevents her

Joan begins to get nasty

Joan (raised voice) - I'm warning you, Smith, I want you off my property right now...

Having heard the raised voice Shane creeps to the hallway door and peeks around

Bea - Oh but I haven't finished with you Ferguson

Joan - I've finished with you Smith

Bea gets the gun into view, Joan looks alarmed

Bea points the gun right into Joan's face

Bea - What's the matter, Joanie? You don't look too well....all the colours drained from your face

Shane has seen the gun

Bea laughs with delight

Rodney visits Kath in the cellar, he is not wearing his uniform this time.

Rodney - I have some good news Kath, I managed to get a few days off work like I said I would so we can spend time together, are you pleased?

Kath is unresponsive

Rodney looks at the plate of untouched food by her bed

Rodney - Kath this won't do, you have to eat something. Think of the baby if not yourself....do I have to force-feed you?

Kath remains silent as Rodney sits beside her and picks the plate up

Rodney - Don't ignore me, Kath, have some food

He lifts the plate up but Kath turns her face away. Rodney takes a handful of food and shoves it in her face

Rodney - I said eat!

He holds her head back and pushes it into her mouth, she struggles and chokes

Kath - OK RODNEY STOP! I'LL EAT THE DAMN FOOD OK

Rodney backs down and watches with satisfaction as Kath begins to eat

Rodney - I think this little hunger strike of yours is most immature if you ask me. Let's behave like adults here, shall we?

Kath sniggers

Kath - Behave like adults? That's rich coming from you

Rodney - Pardon?

Kath - Forget it, it doesn't matter

Rodney - Do you like the food? Mother made it especially for you

Kath - It's ok I suppose

Rodney - It's better than any of that muck they serve up in Wentworth....I'm going to take you upstairs later, let you have a bath, and if you behave we can go out into the fresh air for a bit but I don't want you trying anything silly ok?

Kath nods and quietly finishes her food

Back with Joan and Bea

Joan - Don't be a fool, Smith..... let's talk about this, shall we?

Bea - It's great to see you so scared. I've waited a long time for this moment ''Freak''...

.....Shane has exited out the backdoor and is sneaking around the side of the house...

......Bea - Remember all the things you did Ferguson? How yourself and Nola tried to drive me insane? How you set me up for Barnehurst and wouldn't even let me say goodbye to Lizzie?

Joan - It was all years ago!

Bea - So? I hold grudges, Joan, it's one of my worst points I know and I ain't forgotten a damn thing

Shane has arrived behind Bea and is creeping up behind her

Joan - We all thought you were dead anyway. How come you're not dead? Did you fake your own death or what? That's pretty clever if you did...

Bea - Don't think you can sweet-talk your way out of this Ferguson...you still got your gloves?

Joan - Of course......I keep them as a souvenir

Joan looks alarmed as Shane jumps Bea and throws her to the ground

Shane - Give me the gun lady!

Bea - Get stuffed kid! Keep out of this its got nothing to do with you

Shane - I won't let you hurt my aunty Joan!

Joan looks terrified as Shane and Bea struggle over the gun

Joan - For god sake Shane......be careful!.

Joan rushes in to protect Shane and the three of them struggle around.

Joan - SMITH! Drop the gun, you bastard!

The gun goes off

Rodney leads Kath out into the fresh air

Rodney - It's a nice day out here as you can see. We'll take a nice walk and have a chat. I hope you're going to talk Kath, it's boring having these one-day conversations

Suddenly Kath breaks free and makes a run for it. Rodney chases her into the woods and grabs her, they struggle and Kath knees him in the balls

Rodney - AH! you vicious bitch Kath!

He tries to restrain her and she continues to fight, Rodney overpowers her, he is red in the face with rage

Rodney - I told you to behave you dumb cow!

Kath - Let me go, Rodney, please!

They struggle some more

Rodney - Stop fighting Kath, you can't win

Kath screams out

Kath - HELP ME, SOMEONE! PLEASE HELP!

Rodney hits her in the face

Rodney - SHUT UP!

He begins to drag her back inside by her hair. Kath screams

Kath - You're hurting me, Rodney!

Rodney - I warned you no silliness I am very disappointed, Kath

Back inside a concerned-looking Mrs Adams is stood waiting

Mrs Adams - What happened? I heard a lot of shouting and screaming

Rodney - She tried to make a run for it didn't she

Mrs Adams - You stupid girl! He tries to do you a favour by taking you out in the fresh air, he was only thinking of you, he didn't want you stuck in the cellar all day he's thoughtful like that my Rodney...and you go and abuse his trust like that. It's no good at all

Rodney - I'll deal with it mum don't worry

Rodney leads Kath back to the cellar and flings her back on the bed

Rodney - You've let me down, Kath! It will be a while before I can trust you again after this!

He begins to smash the room up in a rage. Kath lays on the bed covering her ears.

Marty and Spike are having a picnic in a quiet spot. Someone is watching them

Marty - I still can't get over Ferguson helping you like this

Spike - I know it's mad isn't it

Marty - Yeah well I'm still not sure we can trust her

Spike - We can I'm sure of it, she's a totally different person out of that prison Marty. I think it partly that she realized how wrong she was in the past since she's experienced what it's like to spend time on the other side of the bars, but it's also that nephew of hers, you should see the way she is about him, she loves him dearly

Back at Joan's Shane is laying in a pool of blood

Joan (hysterical) - SHANE! oh my god, Shane!

Joan kneels beside Shane as Bea backs away and makes a run for the car

Joan - You bastard Smith, you'll pay for this! If my Shane dies I'll kill you

Police cars come zooming around the corner as Bea gets in the car with Reb

Reb - What the hell are you playing at Bea? I thought we agreed on no shooting, I heard a gunshot! Have you shot her?

Bea - MOVE IT! NOW C'MON!

They speed off and a police car gives chase

Another police car stays at Joan's and a policeman runs over

Joan is frantic

Joan - He needs an ambulance, quickly!

Reb is speeding along to escape the police

Reb (angry) - You promised me, Smith! I don't like people who go back on their promises

Bea - Well now's hardly the time to discuss it is it, we need to get away from this lot

Reb turns a corner into a dead end

Bea - BLAST!

Reb pulls over

Bea - What are you doing? Don't just stop you silly bitch!

Reb - They've got us can't you see that?

Bea - Yeah well it ain't over yet is it

Bea gets out and begins to run

The police car pulls into the dead end and two officers get out and give chase

Policeman - OI! STOP!

Reb gets out of the car and one of the police officers runs up and restrains her

Reb - Hey take it, easy kid! I'm giving myself up quietly ain't I?

The policeman slaps Reb into a pair of handcuffs and leads her to the car...

......The police catch Bea, she thrashes around

Policeman - Give it up eh love, we don't want to have to get rough with you do we

They lead Bea away

Joan is at the hospital as a Dr comes out to talk to her. Joan stands looking anxious

The dr - I'm sorry to tell you this but Shane didn't make it, we tried our best, I'm sorry

Joan lets out a cry of despair and falls on her knees in tears

Joan - NO! NO, NOT MY SHANE!

Bea is sitting in a police cell. Reb is in the next cell and calls out

Reb - CAN YOU HEAR ME, SMITH? YOU HAD BETTER DAMN WELL TELL THEM THAT I WANTED NOTHING TO DO WITH ANYONE GETTING SHOT OR KILLED!.... CAN YOU HEAR ME? I MEAN IT BITCH!

Bea - SHUT UP KEAN, YOU KNEW WHAT YOU WERE GETTING INTO WHEN YOU GOT ME A GUN, DON'T MAKE OUT YOU'RE INNOCENT IN ALL THIS

Reb bangs on the wall in a rage

Reb - I ONLY WANTED TO SCARE HER DAMN IT! YOU KNOW THAT DAMN WELL SMITH! I DON'T KILL PEOPLE SMITH!

A custody officer enters the corridor outside the cells

Custody officer - QUIET YOU TWO!

He opens Bea's cell door

Custody officer - Come with me, please

Bea follows him out to the front desk where the custody sergeant is waiting. Bea casually leans on the counter

The custody sergeant - Stand up straight please...don't lean on my counter

Bea (cocky attitude) - Sorry love...

Custody Sergeant - Well Mrs Davidson..or should I say, Smith? It's nice to have you back in custody after so many years.....you'll go away for a long time, the kid you shot just died. The hospital told us just now

Bea looks fretful

Bea - Oh hell, I didn't want to hurt the kid, it's Ferguson I wanted, he just got in the way

Custody Sergeant - Well whether you meant to or not you did, and they don't much care for child killers in prison do they?

Bea - They will understand when I tell them it was an accident...they will understand even more when I tell them who the bullet was really meant for

Custody Sergeant - Will they? Well let's hope so shall we......you'll be charged with murder and put before a court first thing in the morning who will without doubt remand you into custody pending trial.

Bea - Yeah yeah I know the drill don't I!...can I make a phone call, please?

Custody Sergeant - Certainly....you're allowed to make a call.

He turns to the custody officer

Custody sergeant - Look after Mrs Smith

The officer nods and leads Bea away

Joan is at the Taylor's with Bob and Marnie. All three of them are crying

Marnie - Why? why my Shane? I want to know

Joan - The bullet was meant for me...Shane died trying to protect me. He was a hero

Marnie - So my Shane is dead because of you?

Joan looks taken aback

Joan - No he's dead because of that bitch Smith Marnie

Marnie (cold) - But it was you and your past as a screw that caused it! My god Bob and I had our doubts about letting you back into Shane's life but he missed you so much, he was being disruptive here, at school. We didn't know what else to do, we thought it was the best thing for him, how wrong can you be?

Bob - Hey that's enough of that Marnie! Joan's not to blame and I think you know that love

Marnie - Do I? Do I really?

Joan - I loved Shane you know I did, had I ever thought this would happen I would never have let him be put in danger

Marnie - It's a bit late for all that now isn't it...I think you had better leave

Bob - She doesn't mean it, Joan, she's just upset...

Marnie - I mean it! i certainly mean it! You're not welcome here Joan! As far as I'm concerned you're just as guilty as this smith woman

Joan looks deeply hurt, she puts her jacket on

Joan - I'll go, you need time to take things in, we all do.... I'll call you

Bob nods at Joan

Marnie - NO! don't call don't come round, stay away Joan!

Bob - Keep calm now love!

Joan quietly and sadly leaves the house

Reb is in front of the custody sergeant

Custody Sergeant - Well it's been a year or so hasn't it Kean but we all knew you'd find your way back here eventually. Got over the amnesia now have you?

Reb - Yeah, something like that

Custody Sergeant - This is a mess Kean, probably worse than any other you have been involved in. You may not have pulled the trigger but you were clearly in on it

Reb - Look I am not going to deny I was in on a plan to scare her but I was not in on shooting her, no way! I didn't even know the gun was loaded I swear, hell I'd never have gone along with it if I had

Custody Sergeant - You do realize who it was that Smith killed don't you?

Reb - Yeah, Joan Ferguson wasn't it?

Custody Sergeant - No it was her nephew, a young boy. You are an accessory in killing a child Kean, how does that make you feel then?

Reb looks lived

It is now nighttime. Exterior shot of Joan's house

Joan is inside sitting in a chair smoking and looking heartbroken when there is a knock at the door. Joan answers to find Len Murphy stood there

Joan - You? What the hell do you want?

Len chuckles

Len - It's really been your day for surprises, hasn't it. I just came to deliver a message from Bea. She says she never meant to kill the kid, it was you she wanted. But she has decided that it's worked out even better this way than if she had killed you. She says that now you have to live with the pain of losing him and you have to live with it for the rest of your life. She thinks that's a better punishment than death and she says that this is what she will find comfort in when she's locked away in a cell at night

Joan - Well you just deliver her a message right back from me Murphy......let her know that Shane meant the world to me and I'm gonna make her pay dearly for what she has done. Afterall Shane was all I had left in this world and now he's gone I have nothing left to lose and that makes me very dangerous

Joan tries to close the door but Len stops her

Len - Before you go Ferguson there was one other thing I wanted to say to you....and this time it's a message from me personally. Remember Pixie Mason Ferguson? ..and how you set me up? I intend to get to the truth about that. I'm pretty sure it was Burke, wasn't it?

Joan doesn't respond

Len - Well?

Joan (snappy) - I've just lost my Shane, I can't discuss all this tonight

Joan is tearful but fights it back, she doesn't want to cry in front of Len of all people

Len - We will have plenty of time to discuss it another night Ferguson, I realize you need time alone now after your loss today. I'll leave you in peace for now, like the gentleman I am......but I will be back to talk again. I intend to clear my name Ferguson and you're gonna help me

He suddenly grabs a startled Joan around the throat

Len - AREN'T YA FERGUSON!

Marty and Spike pull up outside Joan's house as Len is leaving.

Marty - Looks like Ferguson had a visitor?

Spike shrugs

Marty - I hate leaving you here Margaret...

Spike - I told ya we can trust Joan

Marty - It's not that, it's this whole thing. When are we going to get a normal life together? I'm fed up with all this stuff that keeps getting in the way

Spike - So am I but I know Joan is working on a plan to fix Preston. She's gonna come good for us Marty I know it, she sees me as a friend now like she did Lorelei

Marty - That's a very exclusive group darling, you should feel honored to be in it, it takes quite some skill to achieve it

Spike laughs

Spike - I know, god it does feel odd though. I wonder what Reet would say? I keep expecting her to come bursting in demanding to know what I'm doing hanging out with Fergo

They both share a laugh

Inside a furious Joan is smashing her living room up in a rage. Having wrecked everything in sight she collapses on the floor crying in despair.

Joan - DAMN YOU, SMITH! DAMN YOU KEAN! DAMN YOU MURPHY! DAMN THE LOT OF YA!-

Spike comes in and is shocked

Spike - Joan? Joan whats happened?

Spike kneels beside Joan to comfort her

Joan - It's Shane Spike...

Spike - What about him?

Joan - He's dead!...my Shane is dead!

Spike - No way!... Joan, I'm so sorry

Joan sobs with despair as Spike comforts her

Joan - No one is gonna be as sorry as the bitch who killed him I tell ya that Spike.

Clive is on the phone on a phone box

Clive - I have found out where Marsh is staying Mr Preston....what do you want me to do with her?......you still want her dead do you?....yes I see

Joan is sitting in her chair having calmed down. Spike enters from the kitchen and hands her a cup of tea

Spike - This is so awful and you say this Smith woman came here to kill you?

Joan - Oh yeah but she's happy enough that Shane's dead instead..my poor little Shane!

Joan is close to tears again Spike comforts her

Spike - I'm so sorry Joan

Joan - So am I and so will Smith be...

Spike - Why? What are you going to do?

Joan - I'm going to get myself put back inside with her so that I can get her for what she has done

Spike - But Joan, you can't go back to prison...

Joan - I can, i have to. I survived last time, I can survive again

Spike - You may not even end up in the same prison as her, what will you do then?

Joan - I'll just have to make sure I do, won't I?

Spike - How will you do that? Think about it Joan

Joan - Oh I'll think about it Spike, there isn't a lot else I will be doing

Spike - I know this seems selfish and isn't the right time to bring it up but about Preston....well you did say you'd help me

Joan smiles at Spike kindly

Joan - Don't worry Spike, I'll help you out first before I go back inside. There are a few other things I have to do before I go back to prison, there is the funeral for one thing

It's the following morning and Bea and Reb are stood side by side in the dock